378.77346309 
B285f 


Rev.  C.  B.  Barton. 

The  Founders  and 
Founding  of  Illinois  College 


ILLINOIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 


378,77346309 
B285f         - 


THE 


Founders  and  Founding 


OF 


ILLINOIS  COLLEGE. 


'By  T{EY.  C.  *B. 


PUBLISHED  BY  A  FEW  OF  His  FRIENDS. 


JACKSONVILLE,   ILL. 

IN     K.    LONG.    JOB    PRIN1 

1902. 


,LLINOIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 


THE 


Founders  and  Founding 

OF 
ILLINOIS  COLLEGE. 


.  C. 


riBLISHED  BY  A  FEW  OF  HIS  FRIENDS. 


JACKSONVILLE,   ILL. 

JOHN     K.    LONG.    JOB    PRINTER. 

1902. 


373 


PREFACE. 


THE  author  of  this  booklet  has  long-  felt  there  were 
facts  and  features  connected  with  the  founding-  of  Illi- 
nois College  worth  preserving  that  have  never  been  in 
print,  and  some  published  have  not  been  emphasized  as 
they  should  have  been.  He  has  aimed  to  take  the  reader 
back  to  those  primitive  days  and  let  him  see  things  as 
did  an  eye  witness,  and  realize  their  bearing  upon  the 
College  enterprise.  Its  beginning,  its  purpose,  the  diffi- 
culties it  had  to  encounter,  are  dwelt  upon.  Special  at- 
tention is  called  to  the  outside  labor  in  laying  broad  and 
deep  its  foundations  in  the  hearts  of  the  people.  These 
and  other  incidental  and  necessary  features  associated 
with  the  early  life  of  the  College  are  alluded  to  in  order 
to  give  variety  and  impressiveness  to  the  views  attempted 
to  be  presented. 


REV.    C.    B.    BARTON 


—7— 


The  Founders  and  Founding  of  Illinois  College. 


To  Rev.  John  M.  Ellis  belongs  the  honor  of  origin- 
ating the  idea  and  commencing  the  work  of  what  be- 
came Illinois  College.  In  January,  1828,  he  came  to 
Jacksonville  in  search  of  a  suitable  location  for  founding 
a  seminary  of  learning.  He  awakened  an  interest  in  the 
enterprise  which  resulted  in  the  formation  of  a  stock 
company  the  following  April,  the  shares  of  which  should 
be  $10  each,  to  erect  such  a  seminary.  A  commit- 
tee was  appointed  to  procure  subscriptions  for  the  pur- 
pose of  erecting  a  two  story  brick  building,  60  by  36  feet, 
with  stone  foundation.  Mr.  Ellis  had  published  an  ac- 
count of  the  work  that  was  in  progress,  soliciting  co- 
operation in  the  enterprise.  It  is  a  singular  coincidence 
that  at  this  time  an  association  of  young  men  in  Yale 
College  were  contemplating  founding  a  College  in  the  far 
West.  Correspondence  was  opened  between  these  par- 
ties, and  at  the  meeting  of  the  seminary  trustees  in  April, 
1829,  they  accepted  the  terms  of  union  proposed  by  the 
Yale  band.  By  the  terms  of  the  agreement,  they  were  to 
furnish  $10,000  for  the  enterprise  and  come  on  to  the 
ground  and  engage  in  various  departments  of  the  under- 


—8— 

taking-.  A  specification  was  also  made  regarding1  the 
number  at  first  to  be  chosen  from  each  party  for  trustees. 
This  body,  thus  originating-  and  organized,  g-ave  the 
name  of  Illinois  Colleg-e  to  the  institution.  Thus  it  ap- 
pears its  parentage  was  from  the  union  of  these  two  forces 
and  not  from  either  alone.  Undue  prominence  has  been 
g-iven  to  each  of  these  ag-encies,  as  if  we  might  distin- 
guish between  sunshine  and  showers  in  vegetable  pro- 
duction. A  further  service  Mr".  Ellis  rendered  to  the 
enterprise  was  in  spending  a  summer  at  the  East,  helping 
to  raise  the  $10,000  the  Yale  band  had  agreed  to  furnish. 
It  seems  that  he  preferred  to  spend  the  rest  of  his  life  in 
other  like  endeavors  in  Christian  and  educational  work. 
The  last  of  these  was  to  procure  extensive  lands  in 
Nebraska,  to  be  occupied  by  an  eastern  colony,  and  to 
establish  a  College  there.  On  his  return  to  ariange  for 
the  colony's  march  to  its  promised  land,  he  stopped  in 
Jacksonville  to  attend  the  25th  anniversary  of  the  Col- 
lege, which  was  an  event  of  great  interest.  But  this  last 
great  work  he  had  to  leave  unfinished,  for  on  reaching 
his  home  in  the  East  he  was  prostrated  by  a  fatal  sick- 
ness, and  died  in  a  short  time.  But  he  still  lives  in  the 
memory  of  a  few  surviving  friends,  who  think  they  can 
trace  back  to  his  first  visit  to  our  little  village  much  of 
the  growth  and  culture  of  the  city  of  Jacksonville. 

On  the  first  of  January,  1830,  Rev.  Julian  M.  Sturte- 
vant  opened  school  with  nine  scholars,  which  increased 
to  seventeen  the  first  term.  Illinois  College  has  been  re- 
garded quite  extensively  as  a  denominational,  or  inter- 


—9— 

denominational  institution.  Mr.  Norton,  in  his  history 
of  Presbyterianism,  says:  "It  was  at  first  intended  to  be 
Presbyterian,  afterward  to  be  Presbyterian  and  Congre- 
gational, but  under  Mr.  Sturtevant's  rule,  it  was  carried 
entirely  over  to  Congregationalism."  Mr.  Sturtevant 
says  it  was  never  intended  to  be  denominational  in  any 
sense  whatever,  and  it  never  has  been.  Because  it  has  been 
manned  and  managed  chiefly  by  persons  belonging-  to 
these  denominations,  it  has  been  considered  by  some  as 
belonging  to  them  exclusively.  Nothing  could  be  farther 
from  the  truth.  Neither  of  these  denominations,  as  such, 
ever  had  anything  to  do  with  it.  In  the  beginning,  it 
was  presented  to  Presbytery,  not  to  be  adopted  as  its 
enterprise,  but  for  its  favorable  regard;  but  Presbytery 
would  not  so  much  as  give  it  this,  and  Mr.  Ellis  was  ad- 
vised to  prosecute  his  enterprise  independently,  which 
he  did,  and  the  result  was  the  union  with  the  voluntary 
association  of  young  men  already  mentioned.  True,  the 
enterprise  was  commenced  and  has  been  carried  on  by 
men  of  these  denominations,  which  was  natural  and  nec- 
essary, as  there  were  no  others  to  do  it.  But  in  later 
years,  when  the  supply  of  competent  men  was  increased, 
men  of  other  denominations  have  had  positions  in  the 
institution.  The  College  claimed  to  be,  and  has  been 
simply  an  educational  institution  of  Christian  character. 
It  is  operated  and  regulated  by  men  chosen  for  their  fit- 
ness to  fill  the  places  they  occupy,  with  no  regard  to 
their  denominational  relations.  There  are  enough  col- 
leges in  the  state  to  meet  the  demand  for  denominational 


—10— 

preference;  let  there  be  one,  at  least,  that  is  not  of  Paul, 
or  Apollos  or  Cephas,  but  of  Christ  only.  Others  may 
be  of  Him  as  truly  as  if  they  had  no  distinctive  prefix. 
The  difference  is,  the  one  is  single-eyed,  the  other  sees 
thing's  double;  and  as  human  nature  is,  they  may  not 
harmonize  and  be  helpful  for  the  supreme  object;  the 
subordinate  may  get  into  the  place  of  the  supreme. 

For  many  years,  the  same  studies  were  pursued  by 
all  in  each  college  class,  and  all  received  the  same  de- 
gree; but  a  change  was  made,  so  that  in  each  class  dif- 
ferent courses  may  be  pursued  and  different  degrees 
awarded.  This  certainly  has  been  a  great  improvement. 
Every  young  man,  if  he  has  not  already  chosen  his  pro- 
fession or  occupation  before  preparing  for  it,  has  a  cast 
of  mind  that  will  lead  him  to  his  appropriate  choice,  and 
that  should  be  allowed  to  determine  his  course  of  study. 
For  many  years,  Wednesday  afternoon  was  devoted  to 
declamations  or  compositions,  these  exercises  being  at- 
tended by  all  the  scholars  and  open  to  the  public.  This 
was  a  pleasing  and  profitable  part  of  our  college  course. 
The  first  dormitory,  built  in  the  early  thirties,  was  burned 
in  1852.  Mr.  Sturtevant  says  that  his  experience,  both 
in  Yale  and  here,  led  him  to  feel  that  there  were  so  many 
evils  connected  with  students  living  in  so  close  con- 
nection that  he  was  in  no  hurry  to  rebuild  a  dormitory. 
Immediate  attention  was  directed  to  building  a  structure 
for  the  public  uses  of  the  College.  This  work  took  four 
years  of  time;  it  was  afterward  named  Sturtevant  Hall. 
But  Mr.  Sturtevant,  after  many  years'  trial  of  having 


I  1 

students  board  in  families  and  living-  away  from  each 
other,  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  disadvantages  of 
this  system  were  much  greater  than  those  of  the  dormi- 
tory plan,  and  it  was  decided  to  build  the  present  dormi- 
tory, Crampton  Hall.  Here  is  seen  in  Mr.  Sturtevant  a 
lovely  trait.  While  he  was  very  positive  in  his  opinions, 
he  was  open  to  conviction,  and  would  change  his  course 
cheerfully.  I  have  in  mind  a  number  of  such  instances, 
one  of  which  I  will  relate.  I  had  asked  of  him  a  certain 
privilege,  which  I  felt  belonged  to  every  one  who  fur- 
nished evidence  of  his  right  to  it.  He  said  (very  kindly) 
it  could  not  be  granted,  because  it  was  not  customary.  I 
asked  him  if  he  was  sure  the  custom  was  right.  He  could 
only  say,  "It  would  be  best  to  observe  it."  We  parted, 
I  in  grief,  he  in  perplexity.  Years  after  we  met,  and  he 
said,  "I  have  long"  wanted  to  see  you  and  say  you 
were  right  and  I  was  wrong,  and  I  have  long  practiced 
as  you  requested."  In  the  board  of  trust,  he  once  ad- 
vocated alone  a  certain  measure,  and  time  showed  that  if 
his  advice  had  been  followed,  it  would  probably  have 
been  greatly  to  the  financial  interests  of  the  College. 
What  he  believed  to  be  right  he  would  abide  by,  or  re- 
linquish whatever  he  had  thought  was  right  or  best  when 
there  was  evidence  that  it  was  not,  whatever  the  cost  to 
him. 

I  must  here  relate,  as  briefly  as  possible,  the  most 
critical  crisis  in  the  finances  of  the  College  that  has  ever 
occurred.  It  was  the  crash  that  came  in  '37.  For  five 
or  six  years  an  extraordinary  influx  of  immigration 


—  12— 

poured  into  Illinois.  Every  dollar  that  a  man  had,  and 
all  he  could  borrow,  was  put  into  land,  and  a  universal 
mania  for  town  and  city  building1  prevailed.  Hundreds 
of  these  were  drawn  elaborately  on  paper  and  staked  out 
on  many  a  prairie,  and  lots  sold  on  credit  to  all  who  could 
be  duped  to  purchase.  The  College  management  thought 
it  a  grand  opportunity  to  establish  an  ample  endowment, 
so  many  friends  of  education  were  becoming  wealthy. 
Pledges  to  the  amount  of  $75,000  were  soon  obtained. 
The  College  greatly  enlarged  its  expenses,  and  plans  for 
the  future  were  entered  upon.  And  all  its  hope  and  ex- 
pectation was  built  upon  as  delusive  a  foundation  as  the 
deceptive  mirage.  These  conceptions  culminated  in  the 
financial  crash  of  '37,  and  left  the  College,  with  those  it 
had  trusted,  stranded  on  the  shore  of  a  threatening  sea. 
These  landholders  had  the  elephant  on  their  hands,  and 
could  neither  keep  him  nor  get  rid  of  him.  "Land  poor" 
was  the  term  by  which  they  designated  themselves. 
There  had  been  large  bodies  of  lands  donated  to  the  Col- 
lege which,  in  time,  would  furnish  ample  endowment. 
These  were  disposed  of  to  meet  the  emergency,  and  it 
was  here  Mr.  Sturtevant  arrayed  himself  against  the 
entire  Board  of  Trust  by  a  plan  which  time  convinced 
him  would  have  saved  this  large  property  from  being 
sacrificed. 

The  history  of  this  whole  affair  is  graphically 
described  by  Mr.  S.  in  the  16th  chapter  of  his  autobiog- 
raphy. It  is  profitable  reading  for  all  persons  thinking 
to  profit  by  financial  ventures. 


—  13— 

This  craze  affected  more  or  less  all  occupations  and 
pursuits  ;  even  college  students  were  drawn  into  this 
mighty  maelstrom  which  engulfed  its  thousands.  Some 
young-  men  thought  they  saw  a  shorter  cut  to  eminence 
than  through  the  long-  colleg-e  course  and  the  tedium  of 
a  profession,  and  they  duped  associates  to  patronize 
them.  I  was  shallow  enoug-h  to  take  a  few  risks,  but 
more  fortunate  than  most  others,  for,  by  exchang-es,  I 
secured  a  lot  on  College  avenue,  which  paid  my  college 
indebtedness  when  I  left.  The  stringency  of  the  times 
compelled  many  students  to  go  "on  tick"  for  tuition, 
food  and  raiment,  and  some  never  met  these  claims. 
How  the  College  weathered  the  storm,  while  so  many 
enterprises  and  so  many  business  men  were  overwhelmed 
by  it,  seems  a  mystery,  almost  a  miracle.  May  it  not 
have  been,  in  part  at  least,  that  its  managers  "asked 
wisdom  of  God,  and  it  was  granted  to  them?" 

If  the  age  of  miracles  is  past,  that  of  believing 
prayer  remains  a  factor  and  force,  that  pervades  and 
purifies  the  fountains  of  influence  that  are  to  fill  the 
world  with  the  knowledge  of  God. 

There  was  much  opposition  to  be  met.  Ignorance 
and  prejudice  were  in  evidence  everywhere.  Let  a  few 
facts  indicate  their  prevalence  and  their  bearing  upon 
the  College  enterprise.  It  was  a  stereotyped  statement 
with  a  large  number  of  ministers,  that  they  had  not 
"spent  four  years  rubbing  their  backs  against  a  college 
wall."  Even  the  distinguished  Peter  Cartwright  made 
this  boast  in  a  sermon,  which  Mr,  Sturtevant  heard  soon 


—  14— 

after  his  arrival  in  Jacksonville,  and  it  was  evident 
it  was  intended  for  his  ear,  and  to  define  his  posi- 
tion toward  the  man  and  his  work.  But  Cartwright 
afterward  accepted  the  title  of  D.  D.  from  a  Methodist 
college.  This  boast,  so  general,  was  a  direct  aim 
against  collegiate  education,  and  it  was  not  without  its 
effect  upon  the  public  mind. 

The  first  sermon  I  ever  heard  on  College  Hill  (be- 
fore it  became  such)  was  in  the  log  cabin  where  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sturtevant  commenced  housekeeping.  The 
preacher  said,  the  Bible  was  so  named  by  joining  the  two 
words  "by"  and  "bill."  By,  he  said,  meant  a  path  as 
we  say  by-path,  and  bill  meant  a  writing  of  instruction, 
and  the  two  together  were  applied  to  the  scriptures, 
which  were  man's  guide  to  heaven. 

We  can  but  laugh  at  such  ignorance,  but  many  who 
heard  him  were  as  ignorant  as  he,  and  thought  him 
a  wise,  learned  man. 

In  1838  the  proper  school  officer  who  furnished  for 
me  (whom  he  had  never  seen)  an  elaborate  certificate 
of  qualifications  to  teach,  could  not  sign  his  name 
thereto,  but  made  his  mark.  About  this  time  I  heard  a 
candidate  for  a  seat  in  the  legislature  pledge  himself  to 
oppose  taxation  for  schools,  "especially,"  he  said,  "for 
gal  schools."  He  was  applauded,  but  not  elected.  When 
Vandalia  was  the  state  capital  the  legislature  defeated 
an  educational  bill,  and  celebrated  the  victory  in  a 
drunken  revelry,  breaking  all  the  table  furniture,  and 
the  next  day  passed  a  bill  for  an  appropriation  to  pay 


—  15— 

the  damage.  It  was  five  years  before  a  charter  for  the 
College  could  be  obtained,  and  only  then  by  putting-  it 
into  an  omnibus  bill  to  secure  its  passage.  These  things 
with  many  others  witness  to  a  great  amount  of  ignorance 
and  prejudice  against,  or  indifference  to,  educational 
institutions  of  a  high  order.  Rudimental  education  was 
all  the  mass  of  the  people  could  see  any  use  for  in  the 
affairs  of  life.  This  was  evidenced  by  a  young  man 
leaving  college,  saying:  "I  can  preach  well  enough 
without  learning;"  and  he  easily  obtained  a  license  to  do 
so,  and  was  acceptable  to  a  large  portion  of  the  popula- 
tion. But  there  were  greater  and  more  formidable  forces 
to  be  encountered,  existing  in  the  framework  of  society. 
Universal  customs  are  an  almost  impregnable  wall  to 
any  innovation.  The  free,  unlimited  use  of  intoxicating 
liquors  was  a  mighty  barrier  to  this  enterprise.  A  tem- 
perance man  was  regarded  as  being  hostile  to  the  people 
because  he  could  not  approve  of  the  universal  habit  of 
liquor  drinking.  A  single  example  will  illustrate  the 
bearing  of  this  custom  on  the  College  enterprise.  Not 
long  after  Mr.  Sturtevant  came,  a  package  arrived  at 
Naples  for  him.  A  gentleman  (and  he  was  such,  meas- 
ured by  the  standard  of  those  times)  being  down  there 
and  knowing  it  would  be  a  great  favor  to  take  it  to  him 
did  so.  When  he  delivered  it  Mr.  S.  asked  :  "What 
shall  I  pay  you  for  this  kindness  ?"  The  reply  was  : 
"Nothing,  sir  ;  but,  of  course,  you  will  treat."  He  re- 
plied :  "I  never  use  intoxicants  or  furnish  them  to 


—16- 

others."  The  man  was  amazed  at  what  he  considered  a 
want  of  good  breeding-. 

Suppose  Mr.  S.  had  then  or  at  any  subsequent  time 
asked  him  for  a  subscription  for  the  College,  what  an- 
swer would  he  most  likely  have  given?  It  would  have 
been  about  this:  "Do  you  men  expect  to  build  up  such 
an  institution  as  you  propose  in  a  community  whose  per- 
sonal habits  and  social  life  you  array  yourselves  against, 
and  in  which  you  will,  of  course,  inculcate  your  obnox- 
ious principles,  and  have  you  the  presumption  to  ask  the 
people  you  thus  assail  to  help  you  in  this  nefarious  at- 
tack upon  the  order  of  society?"  Such  a  reply,  I  am 
confident,  would  have  met  the  approval  of  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  population  of  this  region  of  country.  These 
founders  well  knew  that  before  any  considerable  success 
in  their  enterprise  could  be  attained,  there  must  be  a 
radical  change  of  public  sentiment  in  regard  to  this  and 
other  antagonistic  forces,  and  they  set  themselves  rigor- 
ously to  the  task  of  procuring  it. 

A  still  greater  obstacle  had  to  be  met  in  the  pro- 
slavery  sentiment  that  prevailed  in  central  and  southern 
Illinois.  This  portion  of  the  state  was  settled  largely 
by  emigrants  from  slave  states,  who  came  here  to  get 
away  from  slavery,  but,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  they 
retained  their  deep  hatred  of  emancipation.  Nothing 
could  be  a  greater  odium  than  to  be  favorable  to  the  abo- 
lition cause.  It  was  regarded  with  the  utmost  contempt 
among  all  classes,  high  and  low.  Even  children  indulged 
in  the  opprobrious  epithet  " 'abolitionist"  A  little  girl 


—17— 

belonging-  to  one  of  the  would-be  first  families  of  the 
town,  got  angry  at  a  schoolmate,  and  in  trying  to  vent 
her  displeasure  exclaimed:  "You,  you  old  abolitionist." 
This  intense  hatred  was  brought  to  bear  heavily  upon 
the  men  of  the  College, who  were  always  very  reticent  on 
the  subject;  but  the  storm  of  invective  was  made  to  beat 
upon  them  in  proportion  to  their  prominent  position  in 
the  community,  and  what  was  supposed  to  be  the  weight 
of  their  influence. 

The  Lovejoy  tragedy  greatly  intensified  this  hostility 
to  the  College  men,  as  President  Beecher  had  stood  by 
the  man  in  his  peril.  He  and  all  the  College  men  were 
threatened  with  violence,  and  there  was  much  reason  to 
fear  that  a  mob  would  be  raised  not  only  to  attack  these 
men,  but  to  do  violence  to  the  College  buildings.  But, 
though  no  violence  was  attempted,  and  the  excitement 
eventually  died  down,  yet,  as  Mr.  Sturtevant  observes, 
"It  left  in  many  minds  a  feeling  of  intense  hatred  to  us 
all,  and  these  hostile  feelings  were  not  confined  to  such 
persons  as  generally  compose  a  mob,  but  affected  many 
individuals  of  wealth  and  social  standing,  and  even  of 
religious  reputation."  Even  the  newspapers  joined  in 
the  general  outcry  against  the  College,  and  for  many 
years  this  prejudice  toward  the  institution  remained  a 
barrier  to  its  growth  and  usefulness.  This  hostility 
could  not  be  successfully  argued  away,  but,  as  Mr.  Stur- 
tevant says,  "a  generation  has  lived  it  down,"  and  he 
adds,  "The  history  of  those  days  is  a  sad  story;  my  soul 
hath  it  in  remembrance  and  is  humbled." 


—  18— 

Very  early  in  the  College  enterprise  Mr.  Sturtevant, 
President  Beecher  and  Rev.  Wm.  Kirby  were  arraigned 
before  Presbytery  for  alleged  heresy.  This  transaction 
resulted  in  the  disgrace  of  their  accuser,  but,  as  in  all 
such  cases,  he  had  his  sympathizers,  who,  with  him,  still 
retained  their  hostility  to  the  College.  This  was  after- 
ward seen  in  a  singular  event  which  should  be  recorded, 
as  I  presume'nothing  of  the  kind  has  ever  occurred  before 
or  since  anywhere.  Such  became  the  disposition  of  many 
of  the  respectable  citizens  towards  what  they  conceived 
to  be  the  management  of  the  College  that  a  public  meet- 
ing was  called  to  take  it  into  consideration,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, put  it  into  other  hands.  Though  it  proved  a  fruit- 
less effort,  it  increased  and  intensified  the  hostile  feeling 
for  a  season.  Unreasonable  hostility  is  the  slowest  of 
all  things  to  die. 

But  there  was  a  bright  side  to  the  College  picture 
in  its  beginning;  it  had  friends  and  helpers  when  strug- 
gling for  existence,  and  they  deserve  to  be  remembered 
for  their  devotion  to  this  enterprise.  The  clerk  of  the 
College  trustees  has  kindly  given  me  the  names  of  the 
stock  company  and  trustees  of  the  seminary,  which  de- 
veloped into  the  College,  and  are  deserving  first  mention. 
They  are:  Enoch  C.  March,  Henry  Robley,  David  Marks, 
William  Thomas,  John  Allen,  Samuel  D.  Lockwood, 
James  Kerr,  J.  R.  Sims,  Daniel  Roberts,  Wm.  R.  Smith, 
Dennis  Rockwell,  Archibald  Job,  Nathan  Compton,  Wm. 
C.  Posey,  Hector  G.  Taylor,  J.  P.  Wilkinson,  Jas.  M. 
Fairfield,  Dr.  Ero  Chandler,  John  Leeper,  John  Tilson, 


—  19— 

Jr.,  and  Wm.  Collins.  In  December,  1829,  these  stock- 
holders and  trustees  elected  three  of  their  number  to  be 
associated  with  the  seven  of  the  Yale  band  as  trustees 
of  the  College.  Why  this  difference  I  could  never  un- 
derstand. The  Yale  band  consisted  of:  Revs.  Theron 
Baldwin,  John  F.  Brooks,  Mason  Grosvenor,  Albert 
Hale,  Elisha  Jenney,  William  Kirby,  Julian  M.  Sturte- 
vant  and  Asa  Turner.  In  addition  to  these  who  thus 
organized  themselves  to  build  up  this  institution,  there 
is  written  on  my  memory  a  large  number  who  gave  the 
enterprise  their  hearty  and  helpful  support.  On  no  one 
thing-  did  its  success  depend  more  than  on  the  energetic 
and  self-denying  action  of  these  men.  But  for  them  the 
College  would  have  gone  elsewhere,  perhaps  out  of  the 
state,  and  a  large  part  of  our  city's  beauty  and  boast 
might  have  been  wanting.  These  men  promptly  pledged 
liberal  support  out  of  extreme  poverty.  I  wish  I  had 
space  to  tell  of  individual  cases,  but  a  single  one 
must  suffice.  Mr.  Ellis'  salary  as  pastor  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  was  only  $300,  which  ''might  be  paid  in 
produce."  The  cause  had  been  previously  presented  in 
Madison  and  Bond  counties,  where  subscriptions  had 
been  given  to  secure  the  College,  Deacon  Collins  sub- 
scribing $400.  These  men  were  so  generous  as  to  turn 
over  to  it  their  subscriptions  after  it  had  been  located  here. 
Outside  this  community  were  a  number  of  other  men 
earnestly  devoted  to  this  work;  none,  however,  could 
have  been  more  so  than  Rev.  Thomas  Lippincott.  He 
accompanied  Mr.  Ellis  on  his  first  visit  to  Jacksonville, 


—20— 

and  in  many  ways  rendered  valuable  assistance.  In  his 
earlier  life,  he  was  prominent  in  public  affairs.  It  is 
believed  he  was  especially  instrumental  in  saving-  this 
state  from  the  curse  of  slavery.  No  man  of  those  trying- 
times,  and  through  all  his  life,  combined  more  excellen- 
cies of  character,  or  wielded  a  wider  influence  for  right- 
eousness in  state,  educational  and  ecclesiastical  affairs 
than  did  he,  and  none  surpassed  him  in  amiable  demean- 
or. While  he  lived,  he  was  a  pillar  of  strength  to  the 
College.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  from  the  families 
here  named  or  alluded  to,  and  those  of  the  first  faculty 
of  the  College,  as  many  as  sixty  students  have  graduated, 
quite  a  number  distinguished  in  their  profession.  These 
early  fruits  in  the  immediate  vicinity  had  much  to  do  in 
giving  the  College  confidence  abroad.  Look  over  its 
catalogue  and  see  to  what  extent  its  invitations  to  its 
halls  have  been  accepted,  and  to  what  extent  it  has  sent 
out  its  benign  influence,  and  then  look  back  to  its  hum- 
ble beginnings,  and  renew  your  faith  in,  and  devotion 
to  Old  Illinois. 

The  founders  of  the  College  realized  that  a  Christian 
College  could  never  be  sustained  in  the  midst  of  irre- 
ligion,  ignorance  and  immorality;  that  there  must  be 
feeders  for  this  fountain  of  knowledge,  and  appropriate 
applicants  must  not  be  wanting  to  draw  from  it.  There- 
fore they  went  out  into  all  the  surrounding-  regions 
preaching  the  Gospel,  establishing  churches  and  schools, 
and  through  these  and  their  personal  influence  bringing 
the  surrounding  communities  into  close  touch  with  the 


—21  — 

College.  These  labors  extended  over  a  large  portion  of 
the  state.  Some  of  these  men  enlarged  their  limits  and 
labors  in  conjunction  with  other  educational  and  relig- 
ious organizations,  which  gave  character  and  favor  to 
their  first  and  fondest  enterprise.  I  should  love  to  give  a 
full  detail  of  this  department  of  their  labors.  It  is  a 
broad  field,  rich  in  results,  two  of  which  I  cannot  omit. 
In  one  village  where  they  established  both  a  church  and 
school,  a  farmer  boy,  through  these,  was  led  to  the  Col- 
lege* graduated  with  honor,  became  a  distinguished 
minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  president  of  his  alma 
mater*  He  wore  himself  out  in  the  service  of  the  institu- 
tion, died  in  the  prime  of  life,  beloved  and  mourned  by 
hundreds  whose  lives  he  had  touched  and  quickened  as 
it  were  by  a  divine  inspiration.  Another  result  (besides 
many  young  men  coming  from  the  towns  and  rural  dis- 
tricts where  they  had  thus  wrought)  was  the  material 
aid  given  to  the  College.  In  after  years  these  communi- 
ties were  able  still  and  willing  to  give  as  had  been  given 
them.  An  agent  was  employed  to  visit  extensively 
throughout  the  state  to  procure  notes  payable  to  the 
College  in  annual  installments,  and  in  all  places  where 
these  men  had  been  forerunners  liberal  subscriptions 
were  obtained.  "From  whence  the  waters  came  thither 
they  return  again,"  is  as  true  in  ethics  as  in  nature.  -  Al- 
most all  these  men  spent  their  lives  in  such  labors  as  had 
more  or  less  bearing  upon  the  prosperity  of  the  College. 
While  they  all  practiced  much  selfdenial,  and  endured 
severe  hardships,  one  of  them  deserves  special  mention 


—22— 

here,  and  again  further  on  in  a  different  connection. 
This  one  contracted  a  fatal  disease  through  fatigue  and 
exposure  and  died  in  a  few  days  before  he  could  be  taken 
to  his  home  in  Jacksonville.  And  all  these  men  gave 
up  the  opportunities  so  many  others  of  these  times  took 
advantage  of  to  lay  foundations  of  wealth.  But  here  we 
will  leave  the  outside  men  and  their  work  and  look 
within. 

In  some  respects  we  shall  find  things  very  inferior  to 
present  furnishings,  in  some  possibly  superior.  The 
conveniences  for  working  have  been  wonderfully  im- 
proved, but  whether  the  workmen  have  been  superior 
might  be  a  question.  We  think,  however,  some  of  the 
College's  early  products  would  compare  favorably  with 
any  of  its  later  outputs. 

The  first  faculty  were  men  of  vigorous  minds,  but 
greatly  differing.  Beecher  was  profound;  he  must  go  to 
the  depth  of  things.  His  radicalism  was  the  inspiration 
of  his  "Conflict  of  Ages,"  his  preexistent  theory.  He 
must  get  back,  behind  all  seen  and  suffered  by  man  now, 
to  account  for  the  mysteries  of  life.  In  discussing  his 
theory  before  the  faculty  he  once  observed;  "You  see 
the  difficulty  of  accounting  for  man's  character  and  con- 
dition here  is  removed."  "Yes,"  said  the  quick  discern- 
ment of  Dr.  Adams,  "you  use  the  right  word,  it  is  re- 
moved, but  not  solved."  To  his  view  it  was  only  thrust 
back  into  deeper  obscurity,  where  there  is  no  prophet  or 
vision  to  help  us.  But  Beecher  was  an  intellectual 
giant,  and  a  more  humble,  godly  man  I  never  knew. 


—23— 

Mr.  Sturtevant's  mind  was  mathematical,  philosophical. 
In  his  teaching-  and  writings  he  looked  at  the  subject  he 
was  treating-  in  all  its  relations  and  bearings.  As  a 
teacher  he  was  greatly  respected  and  the  life  and  delight 
of  the  social  circle.  The  divided  state  of  the  Christian 
church  was  a  great  grief  to  him.  In  his  estimation 
denominationalism  was  damaging  to  vital  Christianity. 

Mr.  Post  was  poetical.  He  had  great  command  of 
language.  He  never  lacked  for  imagery.  He  clothed 
his  thoughts  in  the  purest,  most  impressive  words  pos- 
sible. His  amiable  disposition  and  lovely  spirit  were  re- 
markable. He  was  loved,  admired  and  honored  as  few 
men  ever  are. 

Prof.  Turner  was  a  nondescript;  for,  as  he  said  of 
himself,  "I  believe  so  to-day,  but  there  is  no  knowing 
what  I  shall  believe  to-morrow."  He  was  practical  and 
ready  for  whatever  might  turn  up  for  his  hand  to  do. 
Hence  the  time  came  in  which  he  could  no  longer  en- 
dure the  treadmill  routine  of  colleg-e  life;  he  must  get 
out  into  the  wide  working  world  and  quicken  its  march 
to  higher  achievement  in  all  enterprises;  and  how  he  did 
it  is  seen  in  the  universal  hedge  fence  up  to  the  State 
University. 

Recitations  were  held  in  the  morning  by  candle- 
light; why,  I  never  could  conceive.  Churches  and  other 
public  rooms  had  a  chandelier  of  a  dozen  or  more  can- 
dles, and  their  drippings  upon  the  floor  were  conspicu- 
ous. Some  people  were  progressive  enough  to  utilize 
hog's  lard  by  putting  a  wick  into  it  in  an  earthen  vessel. 


-24- 

Coal  oil  had  not  been  discovered;  no  such  thing  as  the 
modern  lamp  had  been  thought  of.  Our  rooms  were  not 
heated,  but  slightly  warmed  by  a  wood  fire  in  an  open 
fire-place.  Coal  had  not  been  discovered  except  in  very 
few  places  and  in  small  quantities.  When  students  crowd- 
ed around  the  open  fire  too  thickly  the  outsiders  would  cry 
out:  "Heat  radiates  in  straight  lines."  Stoves  were  not 
in  use.  Until  the  first  dormitory  was  burned  the  faculty 
and  their  families  sat  at  the  same  tables  in  the  dining 
room  with  the  students.  This  arrangement  had  a  very 
restraining  and  refining  influence  upon  the  students,  and 
it  was  productive  of  a  pleasing  and  profitable  intimacy 
between  them. 

There  was  connected  with  the  College  a  farm  and 
work  shops,  where  students  might  labor,  and  many  did 
so,  paying  a  part  of  their  expenses  in  this  way.  By  this 
means  and  other  employments  furnished  in  the  institu- 
tion much  help  was  afforded  to  indigent  students,  and  at 
first  these  were  a  majority.  One  of  these  is  worthy  of 
mention  here.  He  came  to  town  a  bare-footed  boy; 
eager  to  obtain  an  education,  and  set  himself  to  the  task 
with  a  will.  It  was  my  privilege  to  give  him  the  first 
lessons  in  the  preparatory  course.  In  college,  by  the 
labor  of  his  own  hands  chiefly,  he  obtained  sufficient 
food,  often  only  bread  and  molasses.  He  secured  the 
high  distinction  of  "professor  of  dust  and  ashes."  He 
graduated  with  honor,  but  not  with  special  distinction. 
For  some  years  he  made  teaching  his  occupation,  in 
which  he  exhibited  unusual  ability  for  improvements  in 


-25- 

educational  lines,  which  led  up  to  his  being-  elected 
state  superintendent  for  six  terms  of  two  years  each. 
Afterwards  he  was  president  of  a  noted  college  many 
years  until  his  late  decease.  In  colleg-e  he  had  a  great 
trial  which  he  bore  heroically.  In  after  days  he  endured 
a  protracted  conflict  with  skeptical  doubts,  until  his 
faith  was  fastened  immovably  upon  the  Rock  of  Ages. 
Perhaps,  all  thing's  considered,  the  early  colleg-e  pro- 
duced the  fairest  specimen  of  its  work  in  Hon.  Newton 
Bateman. 

As  I  have  meditated  upon  the  feeble  beginning's  of 
the  Colleg-e  and  its  present  attainment,  many  striking- 
contrasts  have  been  seen.  One  I  will  relate  with  the 
lesson  it  teaches.  When  Mr.  Sturtevant  showed  his 
highly  cultured  wife  of  refined  tastes  the  log-  cabin  where 
they  were  to  begin  housekeeping-,  her  feeling's  overcame 
her  and  she  could  not  refrain  from  tears.  But  soon  her 
nobler  self  g-ained  the  victory  over  her  grief  and  she 
cheerfully  submitted  to  the  inevitable.  In  this  rude 
structure  with  a  small  bedroom  at  one  end,  and  a  larg-er 
one  for  kitchen,  parlor,  dining-  room,  and  all  other  pur- 
poses, they  spent  a  year  or  two  happy  and  hopeful,  de- 
voted to  their  life  work.  On  the  same  ground  where 
this  cabin  stood  was  recently  erected  a  magnificent,  im- 
posing edifice  for  the  occupancy  of  their  successors  in 
the  same  great  enterprise.  It  furnishes  every  possible 
convenience  and  comfort  for  family  enjoyment,  and  the 
entertainment  of  friends  in  the  most  pleasing  manner. 
Did  ever  greater  extremes  meet  and  minister  to  the  same 


—26— 

noble  end?  "God  confounds  the  weak  things  of  the 
world  with  the  mighty,"  that  means  to  mingle  and 
blend  opposites  so  that  their  separate  natures  or  forms 
cannot  be  distinguished.  The  weakest  and  strongest 
instrumentalities  combined  become  a  new  force  for 
greater  efficiency.  One  star  differeth  from  another  star 
in  glory,  but  when  they  converge  and  concentrate  their 
rays  upon  a  single  object  how  much  they  "aid  each 
other's  shining."  The  rude  cabin  is  exalted  and  refined 
by  its  association  with  the  costly  edifice  in  the  same 
noble  service;  the  latter  finds  its  brightest  honor  in  be- 
ing thus  associated  with  the  former.  Beecher  Hall,  the 
first  in  the  fight,  crumbling  with  age,  covered  with  moss 
and  mildew,  and  this  beautiful  mansion,  richly  pan- 
oplied, elaborately  equipped,  standing  side  by  side  as 
veteran  and  newly  enlisted,  are  worthy  equal  honor  and 
admiration,  the  one  for  the  achievements  it  has  made, 
the  other  for  the  laurels  it  may  win.  "Despise  not  the 
day  of  small  things,"  but  let  it  be  an  inspiration  to 
higher  aims  and  nobler  achievements. 

This  sketch  would  be  greatly  wanting  were  nothing 
said  of  the  companions  of  these  men,  and  of  those  who 
aided  them  in  their  great  enterprise.  Most  of  them 
brought  their  wives  with  them,  having  had  pick  and 
choice  out  of  the  abundant  supply  of  refined  and  cultured 
ladies  at  the  East.  In  those  early  times  such  an  one 
would  be  a  rare  bird  at  the  West  and  many  would  try  to 
cage  her.  The  youngest  of  their  number  came  without 
a  helpmeet,  but  found  one  who  had  preceded  him,  in 


—97 

z.1  / 

every  way  qualified  to  be  his  companion.  I  will  give  a 
brief  outline  of  their  life  of  some  20  years  or  more. 
They  commenced  their  work  with  a  small  church  that 
could  do  but  little  for  them.  A  single  incident,  though 
an  extreme  case,  will  show  what  all  these  men  and  their 
wives  had  to  endure  to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  A  prom- 
inent, marked  event  is  usuall}7  evidence  of  minor,  similar 
ones  connected  therewith.  This  man,  to  get  coarse 
bread  for  his  family,  once  rode  ten  miles  in  one  direction 
to  get  a  grist  of  corn,  took  it  ten  miles  in  another  di- 
rection to  get  it  ground,  had  to  leave  it  until  the  next 
day,  when  he  went  and  brought  it  home,  thus  riding  60 
miles  on  horseback  on  a  sack  of  corn,  spending  three 
days'  time  to  get  coarse  bread  for  a  few  weeks'  supply. 
His  wife  baked  the  bread  outdoors  in  a  Dutch  oven  by  an 
open  fire.  But  these  stringent  times  did  not  last  very 
long;  yet  it  was  here  their  first  child  was  born,  who,  for 
years,  has  borne  the  title  of  LL.D.,  is  a  prominent 
lawyer,  an  honored  trustee  of  the  college  for  whose  ben- 
efit they  both  seemed  to  have  shortened  their  lives  by 
these  hardships,  neither  of  them  reaching  the  meridian 
of  life.  And  such,  too,  was  the  untimely  death  of  num- 
bers of  others  aiding  the  same  work.  Mrs.  Ellis,  who 
was  a  highly  cultured  French  lady,  was  the  first  to  live 
and  die  in  this  work.  She  and  her  two  children  were 
among  the  first  victims  of  the  cholera  in  1833.  For  three 
years  she  taught  a  private  school  in  her  own  house  of 
three  rooms,  with  no  domestic  help,  and  often  entertain- 
ing for  days  or  for  a  week  the  fresh  arrivals  to  join  the 


—28— 

advance  guard.  Her  school  was  the  small  beginning 
out  of  which  has  grown  the  now  so  highly  distinguished 
Female  Academy  of  the  city  of  Jacksonville. 

Twenty-live  years  after  her  death  one  of  her  pupils 
in  an  article  on  her  character  wrote  thus  of  her  and 
others  who  came  after  her:  "It  has  been  a  real  luxury 
to  me  to  go  back  in  memory  25  years  and  sit  again  at  her 
feet  and  listen  to  her  impassioned  eloquence  which 
thrilled  my  youthful  heart;  and  now  I  gratefully  realize 
what  it  was  to  young  minds  wholly  unacquainted  with 
society  in  the  then  uncultured  West,  to  be  stamped  un- 
der her  influence."  The  article  closes  with  this  tribute 
to  her  memory  and  that  of  many  others:  "Many  lovely 
and  excellent  partners  of  western  missionaries  have  been 
early  called  to  rest  from  their  labors.  Many  sweet  and 
lovely  flowers  have  been  transplanted  from  various  parts 
of  our  land  to  droop  and  die  on  our  prairies;  but  some  of 
us  will  never  forget  that  among  them  bloomed  and 
withered  a  beautiful  and  lovely  exotic"  Of  all  these  no 
one  excelled  in  beauty  of  person,  in  loveliness  of  spirit, 
and  in  mental  endowment,  the  first  Mrs.  Sturtevant.  She 
was  truly  a  helpmeet;  for  her  husband  often  deferred  to 
her  judgment  in  doubtful  questions. 

The  benefits  of  the  College  to  our  community  are  in- 
estimable. Its  existence  creates  a  thirst  for  knowledge. 
Two  sons  of  the  man  who  sought  a  seat  in  the  legisla- 
ture by  decrying  educational  institutions  were  of  the 
nine  with  whom  Mr.  Sturtevant  opened  the  College. 
The  founding  of  the  College  here,  at  the  time  it  took 


—29— 

place,  has  been  largely  instrumental  in  establishing1  the 
other  educational  and  eleemosynary  institutions  with 
which  Jacksonville  is  blest.  It  has  served  greatly  to 
give  our  city  a  refined,  cultured,  Christian  people.  Nu- 
merous instances  of  its  influence  in  this  regard  might  be 
cited;  one  I  will  give:  A  lady  informs  me  that  both  of 
her  grandfathers  moving  from  the  East  intended  to 
settle  in  Ohio,  but  hearing  of  the  founding  of  Illinois 
College,  journeyed  on  to  Jacksonville.  The  first  family 
came  in  1830  and  furnished  two  students  for  the  College, 
one  graduating  in  the  class  of  '36.  The  other  also  fur- 
nished two,  one  graduating  from  the  college  department, 
the  other  from  the  medical.  This  family,  from  the  de- 
vout, honored  father,  to  his  descendants  of  to-day  in  pub- 
lic and  private  life,  have  contributed  much  to  the  well 
being  of  this  and  other  communities. 

Like  a  city  set  on  a  hill  the  College  in  its  varied  re- 
lations to  the  welfare  of  mankind  is  not  hid;  as  well  talk 
of  hiding  the  sun  in  its  mid-day  splendor,  or  clouding 
the  heavens  when  all  its  shining  stars  bespangle  the 
vast  firmament.  Take  the  catalogue  that  records  the 
names,  the  whereabouts  and  whatabouts  of  the  gradu- 
ates for  65  years,  note  carefully  the  probable  details  of 
each  one's  life  and  what  an  aggregate  of  blessing  to  the 
world,  to  be  measurably  credited  to  the  College.  And 
their  services  have  been  in  the  most  formative  period  of 
the  world's  history. 

Illinois  College  was  founded  in  prayer  and  watered 
with  tears.  In  my  long  life  I  have  not  known  greater 


—30— 

intellectual  ability,  more  godly  fear,  greater  zeal 
and  devotion  concentrated  upon  one  object  than  upon 
this.  The  men  who  undertook  it  were  wonderfully  en- 
dowed. Their  places  are  now  occupied  by  men  recently 
chosen.  If  the  mantle  of  the  first  has  fallen  upon  the 
last  the  friends  of  the  College  need  not  fear  for  its  future 
prosperity.  Without  such  equipment  a  just  concern 
might  be  awakened  in  its  behalf.  But  let  no  one  utter 
complaint  without  studying-  well  the  conditions  that 
may  demand  changes  of  men  and  measures.  The  indis- 
pensable factor  demanded,  is  men  of  ability  and  unselfish 
consecration  to  the  work  they  have  undertaken.  It  will 
be  a  sad  omen  when  the  spirit  that  founded  the  College 
shall  fail  to  foster  it. 

In  closing  I  wish  to  leave  a  picture  that  has  come  to 
my  vision  in  this  late  hour  of  life,  concerning  "the  con- 
summation of  all  things."  I  see  the  innumerable  insti- 
tutions of  learning  throughout  the  world  combined  with 
all  Christian  enterprises,  with  all  moral,  social,  civil  in- 
fluences, and  the  mighty  physical  forces  operating  every- 
where in  innumerable  forms,  and  I  ask:  "Can  it  be  that 
the  highest  value  of  each  one  of  these  is  in  what  it  is 
per  sef  Is  each  an  ultimate  end?  Or  are  their  highest 
values  in  being  instrumentalities  to  one  grand,  glorious 
consummation?"  They  are  to  my  mind  God's  mighty, 
majestic  drama,  in  which  each  successive  act  sustains  a 
vital  relation  to  the  end  of  all  things  being  enacted  here. 
Divine  revelation  seems  to  justify  this  view.  "Many 
shall  run  to  and  fro,  and  knowledge  shall  be  increased," 


—31  — 

until  it  fills  the  earth  as  the  waters  the  seas.  The  Gos- 
pel is  to  be  preached  to  all  nations  under  the  whole 
heavens,  until  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  become  the 
kingdom  of  Christ,  and  then  shall  the  end  come.  This 
end  will  be  the  beginning-  of  that,  for  which  all  else  had 
ever  been. 

Oh,  who  would  not  love  to  see  this  end, 

Toward  which  all  things  did  ever  trend; 

'Twill  be  a  delight  hitherto  untold, 

To  witness  the  last  scenes  the  prophets  unfold. 

To  see  this  seething,  sweltering  world  at  rest, 

Each  man  and  nation  in  each  other  blest; 

To  see  foundations  stable  and  secure, 

Temples  and  towers  of  truth  to  endure. 

To  witness  the  "Once  more  shaking  of  earth  and  heaven, 

And  see  what  remains  that  cannot  be  shaken." 

The  world  has  been  moving  from  the  beginning, 

Toward  a  consummation  all  hopes  fulfilling. 

What  a  sight  to  see  this  work  completed, 

And  all  hostility  forever  defeated. 

'Twill  be  the  golden  age  the  world  has  waited  for, 

Ruled  by  reason,  governed  by  righteous  law. 

But  we  may  see  it  all  and  vastly  more, 

When  we've  crossed  the  river  to  the  shining  shore; 

Where  we  shall  live  on  through  ages  untold, 

And  see  the  last  act  of  this  drama  unfold. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 
378  77346309B285F  C001 

THE  FOUNDERS  AND  FOUNDING  OF  ILLINOIS  CO 


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